Real Life with Jennifer Till

QUOTE OF THE WEEK: The truth is that our finest moments are most likely to occur when we are feeling deeply uncomfortable, unhappy or unfulfilled, for it is only in such moments, propelled by our discomfort, that we are likely to step out of our ruts and start searching for different ways or truer answers.  –Scott Peck

Joan Esposito is a remarkable woman–both for whom she is and what she had done with the Women’s Four Miler Training Program. If you have had the pleasure of meeting her or listening to her this is a self-evident truth.

After this interview, however, what kept resonating in my mind was her nickname – Big Pink. Sure it’s a great nickname (capturing a huge heart and dedication to women’s breast cancer) particularly in that Joan is of diminutive stature.

But what I thought about was the act of naming itself. Each of comes into this world with a name given to us by others, sometimes well meaning, sometimes misguided, but always of someone else’s choosing - a name given to connect us to relatives or to someone else’s dream for our future (or their unrealized past) or their idea of beauty or greatness.

So, I wondered, if on our journey of self-discovery and self-definition, each of us might not benefit from a new name? One we give to ourselves or we ask others to give us. One that defines not just who we were, or even who we are, but who we, or what, we aspire to be. 

If so, what name would you choose for yourself?

TIP OF THE WEEK: Take your first step with a partner, a friend, a coach.

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST: http://www.wina.com/play_window.php?audioType=Episode&audioId=3839421